As part of the investigation into fraudulent transfers of Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille players from ’09-12, in which €65M was embezzled, former club Sporting Dir JOSÉ ANIGO was indicted on Tuesday “for complicity in the abuse of social funds.” However, Anigo’s lawyer said that there was “no ban on his continuing his professional activities within OM” (as recruiter) (L’EXPRESS, 7/13). ... MANNY PACQUIAO is "planning to fight again later this year, just three months after announcing his retirement from boxing." His promoter BOB ARUM said that Pacquiao, who said his win over TIMOTHY BRADLEY in April was his final bout, "would fight on Oct. 29 or Nov. 5 in Las Vegas against a yet-to-be-determined opponent." Since Pacquiao's "farewell" bout three months ago, he "won a senate seat in the Philippines" (REUTERS, 7/13). ... Former La Liga side Athletic Bilbao President PEDRO AURTENETXE, who led the club from '82-90, died on Wednesday at the age of 83, the club announced. Under Aurtenetxe, Athletic Bilbao won La Liga in '83 and '84 (EFE, 7/13). ... Distance runner JO PAVEY will be the "first British female track athlete to compete in five Olympics after she was named on Wednesday in an 80-strong squad for Rio" along with many of the athletes from '12. They include London Gold Medalists JESSICA ENNIS-HILL (heptathlon), MO FARAH (5,000m and 10,000m) and GREG RUTHERFORD (long jump), who all triumphed on so-called "Super Saturday." Pavey, 42, European champion in '14 and a mother of two, "will also be the oldest British woman to run at a Games" (REUTERS, 7/13). ... PETER JOHNSON, one of Australia's "greatest and most influential players of the amateur era," has died aged 78. Johnson played 42 Test matches for Australia, "including five as captain." He was "credited with revolutionising the role of a hooker" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/14).
MOVING ON: COLIN MURRAY has quit talkSPORT, announcing that "he could no longer work there after it was taken over by the parent company of the Sun newspaper." Former Match of the Day 2 presenter Murray announced his resignation "hours after fellow talkSPORT regular STAN COLLYMORE revealed he was also leaving the station -- although in his case not out of choice." Their departure comes "a fortnight after News Corporation bought talkSPORT owner Wireless Group" for £220M ($289M). Murray's "objection to continuing to work for talkSPORT appears to relate to the Sun's coverage of the Hillsborough disaster" (London TELEGRAPH, 7/13).
